Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer

21 reviews

jja_b's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

A charming read. I thought this was a very melancholic but sweet tale, and the characters’ experiences during the occupation were moving.

I did struggle with the writing style a bit at first (an epistolary novel I believe it’s called??) but I ended up really liking it. I think the film adaption is great, but I think I might prefer the book a lil more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, and Death of parent

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Genocide, and Violence

Minor: Vomit and Alcoholism

naomi_k's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Vomit, War, Violence, Bullying, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Dysphoria, Genocide, Hate crime, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Animal death, Child abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Child death, Death of parent, Torture, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, and Gun violence

carireadsbooksandtarot's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

 

It took me a long time to pick up this book because I thought it would be a sappy historic romance. (This opinion was largely based on the movie tie in cover). But having recently read The Jane Austen Society, 84 Charing Cross Road, and Bloomsbury Girls, it was recommended as a similar title. The recommendation was apt. 

            This is a charming epistolary novel following Juliet, an author, who finds herself drawn into the story of a group of channel islanders who survived German occupation. She begins to exchange letters with the members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, an eclectic group who bonded over literature and helped one another through the misery of the occupation. Juliet becomes so enthralled with their stories that she decides to travel to Guernsey in order to write about this fascinating and diverse group of people. 

            Shaffer and Barrows created a beautiful tale of sorrow and humor, resilience and love. There is a romance but don’t let that dissuade you, this is a gem of a book about found family. 

            I’m not a big fan of epistolary novels as I feel like it takes a lot of brain power to keep everyone straight and remember who is writing to who with each letter. Still, this was a delightful read and I think I will check out the movie next. How can I resist a movie with so many stars from Downton Abbey? 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War and Violence

eloiseisreading's review

emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Violence, and War

Minor: Antisemitism, Child death, Racism, and Slavery

rieviolet's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I went into this book not expecting much, I thought it would be just a pleasant and easy read to end the year and start a new one, but oh boy it was much more! I'm not the biggest fan of WW2 fiction but this book was a very pleasant surprise.

I really liked how the authors didn't shy away from and handled the heavy topics related to war, occupation and concentration camps. But, at the same time, the book was also very hopeful and filled with such lovely humour and funny situations.
I really loved the big cast of characters, with all their idiosyncrasies, they felt really well depicted and vivid on the page. 

I appreciated the narrative choice of telling the story through letters/telegrams and the theme of  "reading/loving books" that was an undercurrent throughout the story.

I'm not giving full marks because some plot points and situations felt a little bit too predictable or far-fetched/bizarre, although it made for a very heartwarming and feel-good story. 

All in all, a lovely way to begin a new reading year!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Police brutality, Slavery, War, and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Trafficking, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Excrement, Religious bigotry, Vomit, and Xenophobia

dear_alice's review

hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A delightful, charming and easy read. Even as someone who generally avoids books related to either WW1 or WW2, I really enjoyed this book. Because of the way the book was made up out of letters and telegrams, it was very quick to get through. It provided me with a cosy feeling while also getting insight in the way that people had to rebuild their lives and communities after the war. Would definitely recommend!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Xenophobia, War, Racism, Abandonment, and Death of parent

Minor: Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Murder, and Alcoholism

rosinawrites7's review

funny informative inspiring lighthearted sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

A great insight into Guernsey during World War 2 and a satisfying read, though I don't think I'd read it again. I do like the story being told through letters, that's fun!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Genocide, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent

Stories about Nazi concentration camps and starving Nazi prisoners working on Guernsey

rhosynmd's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This book was so much more than I was expecting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Animal death, Genocide, War, and Violence

Minor: Antisemitism and Child death

saragibson's review

hopeful medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Genocide

claudiamacpherson's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Death, War, Xenophobia, Vomit, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Slavery, and Violence